Do you know what size filter you need, but have no idea what MERV rating you need?

First of all, we should establish what a MERV rating actually means. MERV ratings are based on three composite, average removal efficiency points for particles it catches from the air. MERV numbers range from 1 (very low) to 16 (very high). Here’s an easy way to remember it: the higher the rating, the more efficient your air filter will be.

MERV 1 to 4 filters provide minimal filtration. These filters have to be replaced frequently and are typically made of disposable fiberglass or synthetic panel filters within a cardboard frame. These filters capture up to 80% of airborne particles as small as 10 microns (microns are a unit of length equal to one-millionth of a meter—basically those small particles in the air you can’t even see).

MERV 5 to 8 filters are great for capturing dust and mold spores. These filters have to be replaced every 3 months, in most homes. MERV 8 replacement air filters are ideal for reducing pollen, pet dander, dust and other contaminants as small as 3.0 microns.

MERV 9 to 12 furnace air filters are able to capture up to 95% of airborne particles and contaminants like pollen, dust mites and mold spores, as small as 1.0 microns. These filters are deep pleated, boxed media or bag filters, which make them some of the most efficient filters that can be used in homes and commercial buildings.

MERV 13 to 16 air filters will trap up to 98% of airborne allergens and pollutants such as bacteria, tobacco smoke, cooking oil and droplet nuclei, as small as 0.3 microns.

It’s important to find the best-rated air filters for your particular needs.

Don’t forget to change your air filter frequently to ensure that you and your family are breathing in the cleanest and healthiest air possible.

Did you know that you most likely have more airborne particulates in your air than the standard 1″ air filter can handle? It is true that air filters work wonders when it comes to capturing many of the particulates that circle in the air you breathe. It is also true that getting a filter that is more than the 1″ standard can totally protect you from the harmful particulates in your home or office. Filtersfast.com offers Return Grille Air Filters just for this purpose. These Return Grille Air Filters are 5″ making for an even more efficient filter when it comes to protecting your health and your environment.

“MERV 13 air filters are the highest recommended air filtration level for most residential applications.”

But why is it the highest recommended air filtrartion level? Well, a lot of it has to do with efficiency. The MERV 13 is one of the highest efficiency ratings available as the U.S. Green Building Council considers a MERV 13 rating the minimum level required to meet its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. There are five other specific things that make this filter especially useful as well:

1.) The larger surface area and deeper pleats of the 5″ filter make it 15 times more effective at capturing airborne particles than a standard 1″ filter. You most likely have more airborne particulates in your air than your standard 1″ filter is equipped to hold. This causes excess air particles to float back out into your household air and cause allergy flare-ups, sinus issues and other health problems.

2.) When you combine this larger filter with a MERV 13 rating you have one of the market’s best filters. MERV 13 filters remove at least 90 percent of all particles 1.0 – 10.0 microns. Just how big is a micron? Look at the period at the end of this sentence. That is a huge 397 microns!

3.) The life of the filters is subject to the environment it’s installed in, but typically RAG last for 2-3x’s longer than a standard 1” filter.

4.) The foam gasket header on the filters increases particle capturing efficiency, because it helps reduce the air bypass. Typical 1” filters obviously don’t have this feature.

5.) These only need to be changed 1x per year. They fit just like a regular 1” filter.

Apart from the MERV 13 Return Grille Air Filter, we also offer another option for you to upgrade from your standard 1″ filter:

The Odor Killer Return Grille will eliminate smoke odors, cigarette odors, pet odors, gases and other contaminants from your indoor air. Since this return grille air filter is 5″ deep compared to the standard 1″ air filter, its greater surface area and deeper pleats allow it to catch far more airborne particles and be changed less frequently.

So this season, don’t just deal with the sneezing, coughing and other symptoms associated with poor air quality. Protect your health, your environment and your wallet with Filtersfast.com.

Air filters remove airborne allergens and pollutants such as dust, mold, pollen, pet dander and bacteria from your indoor air. There is a vast array of air filters with different levels of measurement for determining the concentration of different particle sizes, usually by weight or count. This measurement of performance for air filters is called Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (or a MERV rating). MERV ratings come from ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2: Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size.

ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, accredits and ensures that the characteristics and performance of products are consistent with terms, definitions and testing of products. ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, develops standards for its members and other professionals involved with refrigeration processes and the maintenance and design of indoor environments.

A MERV rating is based on three composite, average removal efficiency points for particles. Categories range from 1 (very low) to 16 (very high). The higher the rating, the more efficient your air filter will help to reduce indoor airborne allergens, pollutants and contaminants.

MERV 1 to 4 filters provides minimal filtration. These filters have to be replaced quite frequently and are typically disposable fiberglass or synthetic panel filters within a cardboard frame. These filters capture up to 80% of airborne particles as small as 10 microns. MERV 5 to 8 filters are good for capturing dust and mold spores. These filters have to be replaced, depending on usage, every 3 months. MERV 8 replacement air filters will reduce pollen, pet dander, dust and other contaminants as small as 3.0 microns.

MERV 9 to 12 furnace air filters capture up to 95% of airborne particles and contaminants like pollen, dust mites and mold spores, as small as 1.0 microns. These filters come in a deep pleated, boxed media or bag filters, which are some of the most efficient filters used in homes and commercial buildings.

MERV 13 to 16 air filters will trap up to 98% of airborne allergens and pollutants such as bacteria, tobacco smoke, cooking oil and droplet nuclei, as small as 0.3 microns. Filtration should be applied to process both return and outside air that is delivered as supply air. Finding the best-rated air filter for your particular need or application will help to keep your air clean and fresh. Don’t forget to change your air filter as recommended and especially when you change your clocks to Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time.